Conheça o MAGNETISMO ANIMAL de FRANZ MESMER!

Summary

This video delves into the historical concept of 'animal magnetism,' also known as mesmerism, introduced by Franz Anton Mesmer. Mesmer, a physician with interests in theology, philosophy, and the sciences, proposed that a universal fluid influenced health and could be manipulated for healing. His theories, popular in Europe from 1780 to 1850, faced both acclaim and controversy, including a royal commission's investigation which concluded it was likely due to imagination. The video explores Mesmer's influence on modern psychology and hypnosis, and his legacy in theories like the unified field theory, without forgetting the question of its scientific validity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Franz Anton Mesmer is the creator of the concept of 'animal magnetism', also known as mesmerism, which gained popularity in Europe between 1780 and 1850.
• 📚 Mesmer was a physician with studies in theology, philosophy, physics, and possibly chemistry and law, though some of these are controversial.
• 🌌 Mesmer believed in a universal fluid that influenced health and harmony in the body, which could be manipulated to cure diseases, an idea influenced by the celestial bodies' gravitational effects.
• 🔮 Initially, Mesmer used magnets and iron in his treatments, but later focused on the hands and fingers as tools to manipulate the universal magnetic fluid within the body.
• 👥 Mesmer's patients were often women suffering from hysteria, a condition that was poorly understood at the time and manifested in various physical symptoms.
• 🎼 His treatments involved intense interactions, sometimes causing controlled convulsions, which were considered part of the healing process.
• 🏥 Due to his growing popularity, Mesmer turned part of his house into a small hospital to accommodate the increasing number of patients.
• 🤔 Despite Mesmer's success, his methods faced criticism and were seen as unscientific or even demonic by some, including the Church.
• 🎓 The French King Louis XVI commissioned a committee of scholars, including Lavoisier, to investigate Mesmer's methods, which concluded negatively, attributing any healing to imagination.
• 🌐 Mesmer's ideas influenced later practices such as hypnosis and modern psychology, including the work of Sigmund Freud and Allan Kardec.
• 🔮 Mesmer proposed 27 propositions about animal magnetism, suggesting it could be used for diagnosing health and preventing diseases, though these ideas lack scientific proof today.

Q & A

Who is Franz Anton Mesmer and what is his contribution to the concept of 'animal magnetism'?

Franz Anton Mesmer was an Austrian doctor born in 1734, known for proposing the concept of 'animal magnetism', also known as 'mesmerism'. He believed in a natural force, similar to magnetism, that could influence health and healing.

What was the historical context during Mesmer's time that influenced his theories?

Mesmer's time was marked by a shift from medieval beliefs and the dominance of the Church to the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason and science over religious faith. This cultural, social, and political transformation greatly influenced Mesmer's theories.

How did Mesmer's studies in physics and chemistry influence his concept of 'animal magnetism'?

Mesmer's studies in physics and chemistry led him to propose that a fluid-like force, similar to magnetism, flowed through the body and could be manipulated to restore health, an idea that was influenced by his understanding of the natural world and its forces.

What was the significance of Mesmer's wife, Anna Maria von Posch, in his work?

Anna Maria von Posch, Mesmer's wife, had connections with the aristocracy and the wealthy, which helped Mesmer gain patrons and support for his work. Her social ties were crucial for the dissemination of his theories.

What was the role of Maria Teresa von Paradis in Mesmer's practice?

Maria Teresa von Paradis was a famous case in Mesmer's practice. She was a blind musician whom Mesmer treated with his 'animal magnetism' techniques, and she reportedly began to regain some sight, although the treatment was controversial and eventually discontinued.

How did Mesmer's methods evolve over time?

Initially, Mesmer used magnets and iron bars to apply 'animal magnetism' to his patients. Later, he moved away from using magnets and focused on using his hands and fingers to manipulate the magnetic fluid, believing that everyone could be a conductor of this force.

What was the reaction of the French King to Mesmer's practices?

The French King Louis XVI commissioned a committee of scholars to investigate Mesmer's methods. The majority of the committee, including the chemist Antoine Lavoisier, concluded that Mesmer's effects were due to imagination, which is considered one of the first documented accounts of the placebo effect.

What is the connection between Mesmer's 'animal magnetism' and modern psychology?

Mesmer's ideas influenced the development of modern psychology, particularly through the practice of hypnosis, which was later developed by James Braid, building on Mesmer's concepts of suggestion and the power of the mind in healing.

How did Mesmer's theories influence other practitioners like Sigmund Freud and Allan Kardec?

Freud initially used hypnosis in his practice before developing psychoanalysis, and Kardec, the codifier of Spiritism, was influenced by Mesmer's ideas, incorporating them into his spiritualist practices focused on healing and communication with spirits.

What are some of the propositions Mesmer made about 'animal magnetism'?

Mesmer proposed that there is a reciprocal influence between celestial bodies, the Earth, and animated bodies, subject to unknown mechanical laws. He also suggested that the magnetic virtue could be accumulated, concentrated, and transformed, and that it could be communicated to other animated and inanimate bodies.

How does the script relate 'animal magnetism' to contemporary concepts like prana and unified field theory?

The script suggests that 'animal magnetism' shares similarities with concepts like prana, a vital life force in Indian philosophy, and unified field theory, which proposes a single field that underlies all physical phenomena, although the latter remains unproven.